Furniture skirt construction and method of making same

ABSTRACT

An upholstered furniture skirt construction and method for making same wherein a U-shaped curtain with evenly and upwardly positioned first and second edges is secured adjacent the front surface of the upholstered furniture article, and a double welt is extended continuously along and over these edges so that the skirt hangs substantially vertically from the front surface of the furniture article.

Unitefi States Patent Staley Aug. 28, 1973 [54] FURNITURE SKIRT CONSTRUCTION AND 1,687,580 10/1928 Melcer .1 5/333 X E 2,619,658 12/1952 Weinberg 5/333 METHOD OF MAKING SAM 2,695,410 11/1954 Hiltbrurmer 112/419 X [76] Inventor: Herbert C- Stal y, P- B 1 2, 2,744,844 5/1956 Wood, Jr. et a1. 2/274 x High Point, NC.

[22] Filed; A 24, 1972 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden [211 App! 247204 Attorney-Charles Y. Lackey Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 146,178, May 24, 1971. [57] ABSTRACT An u bolstered furniture skirt construction and 52 us. 01. 29 91.1 112 409 P 1511 Int. Cl. 11683 l/00 method for making same wherein a u'shaped curtain 581 Field of Search 29/91 91.1 91.5- evenly and semnd 223/28. 112/409 418 2/274 .3 edges is secured adjacent the front surface of the upbolstered furniture article, and a double well is ex- 56] References Cited tended contmuously along and over these edges so that the skirt hangs substantially vertically from the front UNITED STATES PATENTS surface of the furniture article. 539,607 5/1895 Boyd 5/333 1,221.976 4/1917 D'Arcy 5/353.7 5 C, 7 Drawing Figures 38 40(stopie) new Patented Aug. 28, 1973 22(stople) FURNITURE SKIRT CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME This is a division of application Ser. No. 146,178 filed May 24, i971.

BACKGROUND, BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION in conventional skirt construction for upholstered furniture, a single edge of a curtain is positioned downwardly against the front surface of a frame, a tape or backing is secured against that edge, and a single welt is affixed directly adjacent thereto. The curtain then drapes outwardly and downwardly over the tape in the general direction of the supporting surface or floor. These curtains are usually lined so that a second fabric layer is secured to the inner side of the curtain.

Unfortunately, when relatively heavy fabric material such as that normally used in upholstering furniture is formed into a curtain, the bend over the securing tape is not sufficiently precise to allow the curtain to hang substantially vertically from the frame front surface. The curtain has a tendency to extend outwardly from the front of the furniture article, and a conventional lining usually increases this undesirable characteristic. Additionally, when the curtain fabric has been penetrated by pins during the fabricating process, the fabric will have a tendency to pucker at some later time after it has been put into use and subjected to changes in temperature and humidity.

The present invention avoids the problems inherent in conventional skirt construction. A U-shaped curtain is formed with its first and second edges positioned evenly together and extending upwardly so that the curtain can be affixed to the frame front surface. An integrally formed doublt welt is placed continuously along and over the first and second edges, and the double welt and the U-shaped curtain is then secured to the frame front surface. Since there is no bending of the fabric over a securing tape as in conventional construction, the U-shaped curtain extends substantially vertically from the frame front surface toward the supporting surface. To amplify the vertical drape of the curtain, an insert may be positioned within the curtain. No pins need be used during the fabricating process, so the pucker problem is eliminated.

The method of constructing the present invention includes either stapling the integral double welt and the U-shaped curtain to the frame front surface, gluing both of these components to the surface or joining the integral double welt and U-shaped curtain prior to attachment to the frame front surface. Either method is equally suitable.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel dress skirt for upholstered furniture which will hang substantially vertically from the furniture frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating dress skirts for upholstered furniture which is more efficient, economical and reliable than the conventional method of furniture skirt construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a furniture skirt and method for making same resulting in a far more aesthetically appealing component than heretofore produced under conventional procedures.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent after a consideration of the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective and fragmentary view of an article of upholstered furniture embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary and front elevational view of an article of upholstered furniture embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional and side elevational view of a conventionally constructed dress skirt for upholstered furniture.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional and side elevational view of a dress skirt for upholstered furniture constituting one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an integrally formed double welt constituting a component of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional and side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the U-shaped curtain and integral double welt are glued to the frame front surface of the furniture article.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and sectional view of the integral double welt and U-shaped curtain which have been sewn together prior to attachment to the frame front surface of the furniture article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates the upholstered furniture article dress skirt formed by the conventional method of securing one end of the curtain fabric material 10 downwardly and adjacent to the front surface 12 of furniture article frame 14 which has been covered with some suitable upholstering material 16. A strip 18 of tape or backing material is then fastened against the inner surface 20 of curtain material 10, and both the tape and the curtain material are then secured to the frame front surface 12 by a plurality of tacks 22 or some other suitable means. The curtain material I0 is normally dressed with a lining 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

While furniture skirts are adequate in appearance when formed by this procedure, it will be apparent that the curtain has a tendency to extend generally outwardly away from surface 12 of frame 14 in the manner shown because of the sharp bend in the fabric 10 when it extends outwardly and downwardly over strip 18. The addition of lining 24 in many instances compounds the problem since temperature and humidity will affect the appearance of both the fabric 10 and the lining 24 when irregularities, pin holes or flaws have been put into the material during the fabricating process.

The present invention is designed to overcome the undesirable features in appearance of prior art fumiture skirts and provide a more efficient and positive method for fabricating those skins. Referring to FIG. 4, a segment of material 26 of preselected length and width is folded upon itself to form a U-shaped curtain 28 having its first and second edges 30 and 32 positioned evenly and upwardly together against the frame front surface 34 hereagain covered by suitable upholstery fabric 36. An integral double welt 38 (see FIG. 5)

is extended continuously along and over first and second edges 30 and 32 to hide these edges and form a dress seam appealing in appearance.

The U-shaped curtain and integral double welt may be affixed to surface 34 by a number of equally suitable means, among them including tacks or staples 40 (FIG. 4), glue 42 (FIG. 6) 'or other measures. It is also possible to continuously sew the integral double welt 38 to the evenly and upwardly extending first and second edges (FIG. 7) prior to affixing these components to the front surface of the frame. When tacks or staples are used to attach the components to the frame, they are, of course, directed between the two welts which are integrally connected so that they are not visible in the finished product because of the close proximity of the welts each to the other.

Double welt 38 is of conventional construction and is formed by wrapping fabric 44 from both edges about braided or corded material 46 as shown in FIG. 5. This double welt construction is conventionally used to cover the junction line between wood and fabric on upholstered furniture.

While there has been described a number of embodiments of upholstered furniture dress skirts and methods for fabricating same, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications can be made in the article and method without departing from the spirit and purpose of the invention. Such modifications are contemplated.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a dress skirt for upholstered furniture comprising the steps of: folding a preselected segment of material upon itself to form a U- shaped curtain; positioning at least one of the edges of the formed curtain adjacent the frame front surface of the furniture article; positioning a double welt continuously along and over at least the one curtain edge; and securing at least the one curtain edge and double welt to the frame front surface.

2. The method of claim 1 whereby the curtain edge and double welt are secured by a plurality of staples.

3. The method of claim 1 whereby the curtain edge and double welt are secured by an application of glue.

4. The method of claim 1 whereby the curtain edge and double welt are joined prior to securement to the frame front surface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein an insert is positioned within the formed U-shaped curtain. 

1. The method of forming a dress skirt for upholstered furniture comprising the steps of: folding a preselected segment of material upon itself to form a U-shaped curtain; positioning at least one of the edges of the formed curtain adjacent the frame front surface of the furniture article; positioning a double welt continuously along and over at least the one curtain edge; and securing at least the one curtain edge and double welt to the frame front surface.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereby the curtain edge and double welt are secured by a plurality of staples.
 3. The method of claim 1 whereby the curtain edge and double welt are secured by an application of glue.
 4. The method of claim 1 whereby the curtain edge and double welt are joined prior to securement to the frame front surface.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein an insert is positioned within the formed U-shaped curtain. 